Alaska Railroad and the Whittier, Alaska Railroad Barges

Alaska Railroad is an American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association regional railroad that connects Anchorage and Fairbanks. The railroad continues south from Anchorage to Whittier and Seward. At Whittier, freight cars are loaded and unloaded onto barges for Prince Rupert, British Columbia for Canadian National Railway Company and Seattle for BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad.

Montana Rail Link and Its Northern Pacific Ancestry

Northern Pacific's route through Montana is part of today's regional railroad, Montana Rail Link.  Montana Rail Link, a member of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association, provides first mile/last mile rail service, originating and delivering carloads from its customers.  Montana Rail Link interchanges freight with both BNSF and Union Pacific.  This gives Montana Rail Link customers great access to our nation's railroad network.

To see more of my Northern Pacific and Montana Rail Link artwork, visit my website,
http://www.andyfletchertrains.com/

Great Northern's Iconic Mascot "'Rocky' The Goat"

Great Northern's iconic mascot, "'Rocky' The Goat" adorned Great Northern's locomotives and rolling stock.  Great Northern connected the Upper Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.  Great Northern is a part of today's BNSF.

To see more of my railroad artwork, visit http://www.andyfletchertrains.com/

Rediscovering My Artist Self

It was October, 2006.  I had not drawn trains for several years after having lost my fine motor skills due to epilepsy.
At the time, I had begun to paint with watercolors.  I had submitted a few of my paintings to coffee shops and galleries across the west, and was scheduled to do a show at a gallery in Seattle.
My mom decided to surprise me and made a reservation at one of my favorite hotels, the Edgewater on Alaskan Way.  I had stayed at the Edgewater many years before when I first began drawing trains.  From the Edgewater, you can see BNSF trains as they begin or end their cross-country trek or bring lumber trains from Canada.
From our room, I could hear the crossing gates ring every time a BNSF train came into view.  Inside, my heart stirred with my love for trains.
As soon as we got home, I began sitting by the Davis train station, watching in anticipation every train that rolled past.  The next thing I new, I was at the art supply store buying paper and pens.
Ahead was a challenging climb to regain my motor skills to draw trains once more.  It would take at least five years of retraining and practice, but in my heart, I had rediscovered my artist self.

To see more of by BNSF artwork, visit
http://www.andyfletchertrains.com/bnsf.html

Chicago Burlington & Quincy-Way of the Zephyrs

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy was known as the Way of the Zephyrs.  CB&Q connected the Midwest with the Rocky Mountain states.
The sides of Chicago Burlington & Quincy freight locomotives and its freight cars were adorned in the slogan "Way of the Zephyrs," advertising CB&Q's famous Zephyr passenger trains.

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's passenger service is remembered in name today in Amtrak's Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area California Zephyr Passenger service.  The California Zephyr was the flagship train of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy, operated in cooperation with the Rio Grande and Western Pacific railroads.

Chicago Burlington & Quincy also operated the Twin Cities to Chicago leg of the Great Northern Empire Builder, another train which lives on in Amtrak service.

To see more of my Chicago Burlington & Quincy artwork, visit

http://www.andyfletchertrains.com/chicago-burlington---quincy.html